Spun off from the Bad Boys film franchise, the Spectrum original TV series L.A.’s Finest follows Gabrielle Union’s character Sydney Burnett who’s now with the LAPD and paired up with Detective Nancy McKenna, played by Jessica Alba.
As a broadcast crime procedural, L.A.’s Finest is completely competent. But where the show really shines is when its leads share the screen. The two make for an excellent buddy cop duo. There’s an obvious chemistry that makes it easy to believe that these two women are “ride or die” for each other, on the job and off the clock.
Union and Alba can kickass and banter with the best of them. Their characters have no qualms about teasing each other over everything from snack preferences to relationship statuses. They know each other’s middle names, make bets with one another, and call each other out for keeping secrets. (The career altering kind, not the normal everyday omissions.)
And yet they also mostly maintain healthy boundaries with each other. They aren’t weirdly codependent or obsessed with one another. They have separate storylines, friendships with their fellow detectives and even with people outside of work. And they generally don’t overstep in personal matters either. For example, when Nancy’s step daughter Izzy goes to Syd in an attempt to get emancipated, she quickly nopes that notion and lets Nancy step in to handle it.
That’s some solid backup if you ask me.
Watch L.A.’s Finest on Spectrum, FOX, or Netflix
If you like to consume media with well-developed female characters and relationships at its center, then L.A.’s Finest is definitely for you. While there are just two seasons, it still checks both boxes. The series even gets bonus points for putting women in reasonable footwear for chasing down suspects and running raids.
Both seasons are currently on Spectrum. If that’s not your internet cable provider, then your best bet is Netflix or FOX, both of which have the first season available to stream. However, if you can handle some detective work on your own, I do suggest tracking down the second season too. In my opinion, it’s even better than the first.
Whether you watch just the 13-episode first season, or take in all 26 episodes, L.A’s Finest offers up a fun female friendship between two strong women who endlessly support and annoy each other, all while kicking ass and taking names. I don’t know about you, but I like to see it.
[Spoilers below.]Best Quotes from L.A.’s Finest
Here are some of my favorite one-liners and conversations between Syd and Nancy:
Nancy: First of all, you ruined Monopoly for me…
Nancy: This is messed up. There’s a dead body upstairs. It’s a crime scene. Someone’s got to call it in.
Syd: Yup, somebody does.
Nancy: So, you know, you gonna…
Syd: No. Hell, no. I was that somebody last week.
Nancy: What? That was a lunch order.
Syd: … there’s no way I can dig myself out of this hole alone.
[Long Pause]Nancy: You have a shovel?
Syd: That’s a metaphor right? ‘Cause I don’t actually have a shovel.
Nancy: Do you think they have guard dogs?
Syd: And we will pick up some steaks.
Nancy: Seriously? Like a Bugs Bunny cartoon? Steaks?
Syd: Do you have a better idea?
Nancy: Steaks it is.
Syd: Okay.
Nancy: So, do we cook the steaks?
Syd: I’m just saying, if we go to jail, we’re gonna be in different gangs. It’s a race thing. I’m gonna have to shank you.
Nancy: Well, you’re going to have to get past Roxy.
Syd: Roxy?
Nancy: I go to jail with this face, first thing I do is wife up.
Nancy: We’re gonna figure this out.
Syd: I’m open to suggestions.
Nancy: You know when all this is behind us, we’re gonna have to talk about the vibrator I saw in your locker.
Syd: I’m a self-soother.
Nancy: Want to talk about it?
Syd: My vibrator?
Nancy: No, your emotions.
Nancy: I’ll tell you everything but right now I need you to help me dig up a body.
Syd: The next random dead body is on you.
Syd: So, tell me what you need.
Nancy: Your cabinet full of guns.
Syd: So, we just gonna stand out here in the rain like a ‘90s R&B video?
Nancy: We?
Syd: I’m done with that lone wolf shit.
And last but not least, my favorite exchange between the two. For context this moment involves a pool and a suspect wielding an ax.
Nancy: You okay?
Sdy: Fan-freaking-tastic. You?
Nancy: Same.
Syd: I thought you’d say swimmingly.
Nancy: No more jokes.
Syd: Just a little dry humor.
Nancy: Don’t make me ax you again.
